Arua bishop rejects talks
What you need to know:
- Flopped. The High Court in Arua had asked Nebbi Bishop Santos Lino Wanok to be the chief mediator in the case where Bishop Odoki sued two priests.
Arua.
Although the Catholic Church preaches peace, love, unity, reconciliation and forgiveness where one has erred, the embattled Arua Diocese Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki has said he is not part of the reconciliation initiatives as requested by the High Court.
The High Court in Arua had asked Nebbi Diocese Bishop Santos Lino Wanok, to be the chief mediator in the case where Bishop Odoki sued priests, Fr Caesar Dralega and Fr Nakari Adiga along with other laity over alleged assassination attempt on him.
The two priests and other members of the congregation have since been suspended.
Last week, Bishop Wanok reported to the court where a date was set for Tuesday but Bishop Odoki did not show up.
Bishop Wanok told Daily Monitor he had hoped that the reconciliation would take place on November 8 but this was not to be.
But Bishop Odoki, who spoke to Daily Monitor on Tuesday evening, said: “For me, I do not know anything about that reconciliation process with those trouble causers of the diocese.”
He added: “If it is there, I welcome it but no one has approached or informed me about the process. You know the bishop is like the governor of the diocese, everything has to start with him.”
Fr Nakari, however, told Daily Monitor that an independent investigation team should be set to investigate the mess and actions of the bishop because his method of administration is questionable.
“The problem is that the Bishop talks about reconciliation but he never acts on it. At the time we wanted to reconcile in 2012 and 2013, he instead took us to court that we want to kill him. And the fact that he cannot admit his mistakes means the reconciliation cannot work out. But for us, we are ready when our court case is concluded,” he said.
On July 2012, Archbishop John Baptist Odama called a meeting at Lodongo Minor Basilica where he called for dialogue with Priests to live in love and truth.
But Bishop Odoki responded that his actions were in consonance with the Canon Law and that he cannot apologise to inferiors.
